While the words “slip and trip” may sound innocent, any victim of a slip, trip or fall accident can tell you that their injuries are nothing to joke about.
Every visitor to a public place expects a certain level of safety, and indeed the property owner has a duty to comply with that standard of care. When the owners of a property fail to meet that expectation, serious personal injury can result. If you have injuries resulting from a slip and fall incident, Los Angeles Personal Injury Lawyer Joseph Avrahamy can assist you with your claim. In representing slip, trip and fall victims, Mr. Avrahamy seeks to ensure that the liable party takes responsibility for his or her negligence.
Slip, trip and fall accidents can occur in many different ways:
Trip and fall accidents occur when an object is left in a walkway that should normally be clear, such as spilled apples left on the floor of a supermarket.
Step and fall claims follow when the injured party walks into hidden hole or indentation, such as a manhole, a broken stair, or a hole in a walkway obstructed by leaves.
Stump and fall accidents occur when an object is dangerously jutting out of a walk or passageway, such as a threshold higher than the floor or an unlevel concrete sidewalk.
Slip and fall claims arise when a walkway or floor that is expected to be safe is left covered with slippery materials such as water or grease.
Who is Responsible for your Personal Injuries Following a Slip, Trip and Fall?
While both the property owner and a guest at that property share the responsibility to take reasonable safety precautions, the property owner must warn visitors of unexpected, dangerous conditions and they must maintain their property to avoid creating hazardous conditions.
In cases involving slip and fall accidents, generally plaintiffs must prove that the property owners either failed to maintain the property or created an unsafe condition which caused the injury (there are other theories as well, i.e. failure to warn). The success of your claim may depend on whether the unsafe condition was permanent or temporary – in instances where the condition was temporary, the length of time it persisted may have bearing on your ability to prove your case. An experienced Personal Injury Attorney will be able to assess the merits of your claim and provide you with representation following a slip and fall accident.
Where Do Slip, Trip and Fall Accidents Happen?
Slip, trip and fall accident cases can occur anywhere. This area of the law, known as premises liability or slip and fall, protects people who sustain injuries due to negligent property conditions. Personal injury claims in a premises liability case can arise from defective conditions or foreign substances/objects, and victims of injury may be compensated for their medical expenses, lost wages, and other costs incurred because of the accident. These type of cases include, but are not limited to, accidents occurring in supermarkets, on the street or sidewalk, on stairs, and in elevators.
Common slip, trip and fall accidents triggering premises liability claims can occur in the following situations:
✓ Defective Sidewalks/Streets
✓ Slippery Floors
✓ Defective Staircases
✓ Torn Carpeting
✓ Lack of Railings
✓ Inadequate Lighting
✓ Obstructions on Walkways
If you or someone you know has been injured in a slip, trip or fall accident, contact The Law Offices of Joseph Y. Avrahamy for a free consultation today.